Music-leaf turner.



X. J. JOLLER.

MUSIC LEAP TURNER.

APPLIOATION FILED BECA. 1912.

Patented May 5, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

coLunBlA PLANDGRAPH co.. wAsHlNaroN, n. c.

X. J, JOLLBR. MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLIGATION FILED. DEG 4, 19l2.

1,095,877. Patented May 5, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2K lg. 42 mw coLuMmA PLANQGRAPH COA. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XAVIER J. JOLLER, OF OGONOMOWOC, WISCONSIN.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, XAVIER J. JoLLnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oconomowoc,in the county of Waukesha and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Music-Leaf Turners, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a music leaf turner.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the sheets of music may be successively turned on manipulating a handle or lever of the device so that the player will have the freedom of his hands when playing the piano or other instrument.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a music leaf turner wherein the music may be held therein when not in use and on the playing of the piano the operator through the instrumentality of the device can successively turn the sheets of music without requiring the handling of the music while playing the piano or other instrument.

A further object of the invention is the provision 0f a music leaf turner wherein the lever for operating the same may readily be adjusted for the convenience of the player of the piano or other instrument.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a music leaf turner which is simple in construction, capable of being mounted upon a piano or other instrument to be played, thoroughly reliable and eiiicient in operation and also inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the piano showing the music leaf turner constructed in accordance with the invention mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the music leaf turner showing the cover removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4*-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the device. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the slide. Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the adjustable racks.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led December 4, 1912.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Serial No. 734,962.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numeral 10 designates generally a piano which is of the ordinary well-known construction and is merely shown to illustrate the mounting and manner of operation of t-he music leaf turner, it being understood of course that the latter may be mounted upon any other instrument.

The music leaf turner comprises a box-like body 11 having a hinged top 12 and hinged end doors 13 whereby access may be had to the interior of the body. In one end of the body 11 is formed a series of pigeon holes 14 adapted to receive music sheets or books, the door 13 being provided with any suitable form of latch 15 so that the same may be fastened in closed position, while in the opposite end of the body 11 is mounted a transverse suspension rod 16 on which are detachably supported hangers 17 each being designed to engage the upper edge of a music sheet for the hanging of the same within the body 11 of the device. The body 11 at its front is formed with a transparent panel 1S although in lieu of this panel an ornamental plate may be positioned at the front of the said body to give attractiveness and neat appearance to the device.

Adapted to rest upon the bottom of the body 11 interiorly thereof is a base 19 from the front edge of which rises a vertical plate 20 supporting a housing 21 in which is arranged the leaf turner mechanism presently described.

The leaf turning mechanism comprises a series of vertically arranged turning shafts 22, 23, 24 and 25 respectively, the same being journaled in bearings 2G suitably fixed to the vertical plate 20 so that the said shafts will be held in vertical spaced relation to each other. Extending outwardly at right angles from the upper end of the shafts are music sheet supporting arms 27 carrying suitable clips 2S for the fastening of the music sheet thereto, the front 18 of the body 11 being of less height than the back and ends thereof so as to provide a space to allow the arms 27 free movement whereby they may swing in an arc forwardly of the said front 13 for the turning of the music sheets suspended therefrom. Formed in opposite sides of the housing 21 on the vertical plate 2O are guide openings 29 in which works a slide 30 formed with tooth racks 31, 32, 33 and 34 respectively, the racks 31, 32 and being arranged in different planes with respect to each other while the rack 84 is located in the plane with the rack 8l and are adapted to successively mesh with their respective gears 85 i'ixed to the shafts 22, 28, 24 and 25, the said gears 85 being disposed in alinement with the said tooth racks so that on the shifting of the slide 30 in one direction the said tooth racks will operate the respective gears in successive order for the turning of the shafts in successive order thereby swinging the arms for the turning of the music sheet suspended therefrom.

Fixed to and projecting outwardly from the slide 8O is a handle 3G the same working in an elongated slot 3T formed in the front 18 of the body 1l and this handle is designed to permit the hand manipulation of the slide for the turning of the music sheet supporting arn'is. Projecting laterally from opposite sides of the slide 30 are arms 88 and 89 respectively each being formed with an eye 40 and to these eyes are connected the coil springs 4l the same being also connected with tlexible pull cords 42 and 43 respectively which are trained through suitable guides 44 which are detachably connected to the piano 10 at opposite ends thereof, the cord being operated in the manner presently described.

It is to be understood, of course, that the body 1l is mounted upon the music rack 45 or upon the top of the piano at the option of the user while attached to the key board 4G on the said piano l() is a guide 4T in which is arranged a slidable tooth rack 48, the guide 47 being formed with a clamp 49 carrying the usual set screw 50 whereby said guide can be detachably clamped to the key board 4G of the piano. Disposed below the toothed rack 48 is an adjustable toothed rack l, the teeth of both racks being designed to mesh with each other so that the said rack 5l can be shifted with relation to the rack 48, and this rack 5l is formed with an arm 52 which depends therefrom so as to project beneath the keyboard 4G of the piano, whereby the knee of the operator can be brought into engagement with the arm .i2 for the shifting of the rack 48, and in this manner pull upon either of the cords 42 and 43 for the actuation of the music leaf turner. rEhe adjustable rack 5l has connected thereto at opposite sides retractile springs which are also connected with the toothed rack 48, and by pulling downwardly upon the lever 52 the said rack 51 can be pulled away from the rack 48 for disengaging the teeth of the respective racks from each other and thereby permitting the hand adjustment of the rack 5l with relation to the rack 48 to suit the convenient manipulation of the arm by the operator, that is to say, by placing the arm 52 at the proper pointbeneath the keyboard of the piano so as to be readily actuated. lVhen the knee of the operator is pressed against the arm at one side thereof it will shift the toothed rack 48 in one direct-ion, thereby causing the slide 8O to be moved longitudinally within the case so as to bring the rack 34 into mesh with the pinion 35 on the shaft 25 and causing it to turn, thus turning the first sheet of the music, and when this rack runs out of mesh with the said pinion the rack 30 will engage the pinion on the shaft 24, thus turning the same, and thereafter the rack 32 will mesh with the pinion on the shaft 23 next turning it, and finally the rack 81 will mesh with the pinion on the shaft 22 causing it to turn the last sheet of music. rlhe springs 41 are designed to give the necessary tension on the cords and 43 for effecting the initial movement of the slide 30 without causing the jerking thereof.

twill be evident that on manipulating the handle 36 the arms 27 can be swung sud cessively in one direction for the turning of the music leaf. Should it he desired by the operator to manipulate the slide 80 by hand it is only necessary to grip the lever 8G by one hand and shitt the same in the required direction for the successive turning of the arms and the sheet music attached thereto.

F rom the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be clearly understood and therefore more extended explanation hasl been omitted.

That is claimed is A music leaf turner comprising a plurality of vertically arranged shafts, music leaf supporting arms projecting from said shafts, gears fixed to the shafts, a sliding` member for actuating the same, extensions at opposite ends of said member, tlexible connections engaged with said extensions, a bracket adapted for detachable connection with a piano and formed with a guideway, a rack member slidable in the guideway and engaged with the flexible connections, a toothed block adjustably connected with the rack member, a lever tixed in the said block and depending therefrom, and spring menibers connected with the block and rack meniber for holding the said block in adjusted engagement with the rack member.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

XAVIER J. JOLLER.

lVitnesses C. C. Cirnimn'r, lVM. Honnson.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

